US: Jewish peace activists lead Gaza cease-fire sit-in at California federal building

A Palestinian man carries a dead child that was found under the rubble

Hundreds of demonstrators demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, headed by Jewish peace activists, held a sit-in inside the federal building in Oakland, California, which resulted in several arrests, according to a report in The Associated Press.

Reportedly, in the rotunda of the Rondald V. Dellums Federal building on Monday evening, people carried banners that said "Let Gaza Live" and "Not in Our Name," and they wore T-shirts that said "Jews Say Cease-fire Now."

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One of the demonstration organisers, Jewish Voice for Peace, stated on its website that by nine o'clock at night, scores of individuals had been arrested.

Early on Tuesday, messages were made to Oakland police and the department inquiring about the number and nature of the arrests. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb of Berkeley explained to KNTV-TV that she was at the sit-in because "there is no other choice". How many people must we kill in order to reach a cease-fire, they questioned.

This demonstration was one of many taking place around the nation in the wake of Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7. Following that, Israel launched its offensive, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and extensive destruction throughout Gaza and other Palestinian regions.

During rush hour on Monday, hundreds of Jewish peace activists and supporters gathered at a significant train station in downtown Chicago to block the Israeli consulate's entry and call for US support for an Israel cease-fire.

On October 27, a sea of demonstrators crowded the main concourse during evening rush hour at New York City's Grand Central Station, led by Jewish Voice for Peace, demanding a cease-fire as Israel stepped up its assault of the Gaza Strip. Following this, at least 200 demonstrators were detained by New York police officers.

Meanwhile, satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press revealed that Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles were advancing further into the Gaza Strip, tightening pressure on Gaza City amid fierce fighting between Israeli forces and militants.

Pictures taken on Saturday by Planet Labs PBC showed Israeli military personnel stationed near the marina in Gaza City. Over thirty vehicles were parked on the beach, some of them behind sand berms that would provide cover. This is consistent with reports and analysis from the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, which characterises this as an Israeli assault that first isolated the southern part of Gaza City before moving along the coast towards the marina.

The advanced base that looked to be Israeli near the marina looked like the defensive position seen in earlier photos. There were large missile impact holes all around these places, some of which are now filled with seawater along the beach.

Despite the protection granted to hospitals under international law during conflicts, they risk losing this status if used for military purposes, as per the International Committee of the Red Cross. The war, stemming from an October 7 Hamas incursion into southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties, with over 11,000 reported deaths, primarily women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Israeli troops, after evacuating civilians from Gaza City, have moved in from multiple directions, encircling the city from the south and advancing from the north and east. Access to independent information remains challenging, with journalists unable to enter the city. Satellite imagery has become crucial for reporting on inaccessible regions, aiding in understanding the ongoing situation.